This morning the Ohio State Board of Trustees will meet in Columbus to help determine the fate of head football coach Urban Meyer.
The Board will meet privately with university president Michael Drake to make a recommendation based on the extensive investigation conducted for the past three weeks. The results of that investigation are expected to be made public when Drake makes his announcement, either today or by the end of the week.
One source close to various Trustees told me confidentially on Monday: “There is no way, at this point, Meyer goes. By forming the committee, they have allowed enough time for people to calm down, and accept the reality that his head doesn’t need to roll.” This source said they would be “shocked if he isn’t on the field for the first game next week.”
The unscientific results of a week-long Jim Heath TV Facebook poll, asking whether Meyer should stay or go, resulted in 67 percent of respondents saying the coach should stay.
Meyer has been on paid administrative leave since August 1 when Ohio State launched an investigation in the wake of domestic abuse allegations against former assistant coach Zach Smith. The scope of the investigation expanded in the wake of allegations of tawdry behavior by Smith, by his ex-wife, Courtney Smith.
Meyer and others have been interviewed multiple times by investigators. The investigation ended Sunday, and the board has been briefed on it.
At this point there are only three plausible outcomes for Meyer:
- He’s reinstated, with his paid administrative time off since August 1 counting as a suspension already served.
- He’s suspended for one, or multiple, games during the upcoming season.
- He’s fired.
Meyer is one of the highest profile coaches in college football, earning $7.5 million per year. He is 73-8 since taking over in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won at least 11 games in each of the six seasons, claiming two B1G titles and a national championship in 2014.
The Buckeyes open the football season a week from Saturday against Oregon State at home.